I have been studying
serial homicide for nearly 15 years on an informal basis and find it
troubling that within the literature, there has yet to be a universally
accepted definition for serial murder. For example, Ted Bundy is
universally accepted as a serial murderer because he met the criteria of
killing three or more victims with an emotional "cooling-off" period between
crimes. Yet, a murderer such as Ed Gein is debated because he took the lives
of two victims and does not meet the criteria of three victims used in many
definitions of serial murder. Without a standardized definition, readers
attempting to understand the complexities of serial murder are eventually
forced to decide which expert he or she wishes to believe. The following are
several definitions for serial murder found in the literature while
researching this article.
Historical References to Serial Murder
Serial murder has been referred to as other terms over the years. Jack the
Ripper's crimes were once described as "…two very similar murders" by
investigators and the press. Past references to serial murder have included
stranger murders, multiple murders, lust murders, and mass murders. Robert
Ressler (1992) says, "Before I coined the term serial killer in the
mid-1970's, such murders were referred to as stranger murders, to
differentiate them from murders in which the victim was killed my those he
or she knew, usually family members" (p. 46). In addition, many of history's
monsters, such as the Bogey Man, the legend of Dracula, and the Wolf Man,
may possibly be society's rationalization for the work of serial killers.
This would not be surprising, because to modern times, serial killers are
often referred to as "monsters".
Federal Bureau of Investigation of the 1980's
In the Crime Classification Manual, Douglas et al. (1992) attempted to
create an operational definition for several crimes, which is presented in a
format resembling the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental
Disorders, 4th edition (1994). Within the classification of homicide, a
subcategory is serial murder, which is defined as, "…three or more separate
events in three or more separate locations with an emotional cooling-off
period between homicides. The serial murder is hypothesized to be
premeditated, involving offense-related fantasy and detailed planning" (p.
20-21). For many, this remains the criteria for serial murder, but as will
be shown next, there are differing views.
*UPDATE: In July 2008 the FBI
authored a
report as a result of a symposium held in
2005 in which they revised their definition of serial murder to the
following:
"Serial Murder: The unlawful killing of two or more victims by the same offender(s), in separate events" (p. 9).
Vernon Geberth
According to Vernon Geberth, the FBI has updated the previous definition of
serial murder, and is now in agreement with his definition presented in
Practical Homicide Investigation: Tactics, Procedures, and Forensic
Techniques, 3rd edition. Geberth (1996) defines serial murder as, "Two or
more separate murders where an individual, acting alone or with another,
commits two or more homicides over a period of time, with time breaks
between each murder event" (p. 856).
Brent Turvey
Turvey (1999) emphasizes that his definition of serial murder is "…meant to
describe the type of case as opposed to describing the type of
offender" (p.287). His definition states simply that serial murder is
"two or more related cases involving homicide behavior" (p.287).
Pierce Brooks
Brooks et al. (1988), as cited in Egger (1998) defines serial murder as "…a
series of two or more murders, committed as separate events, usually, but
not always, by one offender acting alone. The crimes may occur over a time
ranging from hours to years. Quite often the motive is psychological, and
the offender's behavior and the physical evidence observed at the scene will
reflect sadistic, sexual overtones" (p. 6).
Eric Hickey
Hickey (1997) included an individual into his study of serial murder if,
"…an offender had been charged with killing three or more individuals over a
period of days, weeks, months, or years…" and "…the homicides had to be
deliberate, premeditated acts whereby the offender selected his or her own
victims and acted under his or her own volition" (p. 27). However, also
included in his study were a few cases where only two victims were killed,
but the offender was suspected in other murders or there was evidence that
there was an intent to kill others.
Steven Egger
Egger is quoted often in the literature with his definition for serial
murder. Some argue that it is overly specific, while others believe it is
overly inclusive. This author will let the reader decide. Egger (1998)
states in his book:
Serial murder occurs when (1) one or more individuals (in many
cases, male) commit(s) a second murder and/or subsequent murder; (2)
there is generally no prior relationship between victim and attacker
(if there is a relationship, such a relationship will place the
victim in a subjugated role to the killer); (3) subsequent murders
are at different times and have no apparent connection to the
initial murder; and (4) are usually committed in a different
geographical location. Further, (5) the motive is not for material
gain and is for the murderer's desire to have power or dominance
over his victims. (6) Victims may have symbolic value for the
murderer and/or are perceived to be prestigeless and in most
instances are unable to defend themselves or alert others to their
plight, or are perceived as powerless given their situation in time,
place, or status within their immediate surroundings, examples being
(7) vagrants, the homeless, prostitutes, migrant workers,
homosexuals, missing children, single women (out by themselves),
elderly women, college students, and hospital patients. (p. 5-6)
In another article, Egger (1984) as cited in Hickey (1997), had a slightly
different version of this definition, which said the murders were, "…a
compulsive act specifically for gratification based on fantasies" (p.11).
This line was changed to, "…the murderer's desire to have power and
dominance over his victims" in the definition presented previously.
Ronald Holmes & Stephen Holmes
Holmes & Holmes (1994) suggest, "A serial killer is defined as someone who
murders three persons in more than a 30-day period. These killings typically
involve one victim per episode" (p. 92). Holmes and De Burger (1988) and
Holmes and Holmes (1996) further subdivide serial murderers into typologies
of; Visionary, Mission, Hedonistic (with subtypes of Lust and Thrill) and
Power/Control. Another subtype of the Hedonistic serial killer is the
Comfort killer, who kills for monetary gain.
Stephen Giannangelo
Giannangelo (1996) presents a definition of serial killer, however the
manner in which it is presented seems to indicate that this also represents
a definition for serial murder. This definition states a serial killer (or
serial murder) is, "Repetitive, cyclical activity, usually associated with a
buildup of tension, committing the crime, and a cooling-off period. Actual
numbers are unimportant; what is relevant is the compulsion to repetitively
commit the crime" (p. 108).
Personal Definition
Just to add to the confusion, I will provide
readers with my own personal definition of serial murder. I am in
agreement with two or more victims representing a serial murderer. I
have also argued that qualitative, rather than simplistic quantitative
differences are included in the defining features of classifying serial
murderers.
Serial murder is the intentional killing of
two or more victims, at separate times and is primarily predatory in
nature. Before each murder, there is a building of tension through fantasy,
which is then relieved by the murder. With an ultimate goal of murdering a
victim, each victim represents an intrinsic motive that fulfills a
psychological need of the offender.
Perhaps someone reading this article has yet another definition for serial
murder that may be of use to others researching the topic. If so, please
feel free to e-mail them to us using the links below and we will include
them on this page. Please cite the source(s) of your definition(s) so that
we may provide a reference for other readers.
References
American Psychiatric
Association. (1994). Diagnostic and
statistical manual of mental disorders, (4th ed.). Washington, DC: Author.
Douglas, J.E., Burgess, A.W., Burgess, A.G., & Ressler, R.K. (1992).
Crime classification manual: A standard system for investigating and
classifying violent crimes. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
Egger, S.A. (1984). A working definition of serial murder and the reduction
of linkage blindness. Journal of Police Science and Administration, 12,
348-357.
Egger, S.A. (1998). The killers among us: An examination of serial murder
and its investigation (2nd ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.
